Residing in Tunbridge, Vermont, Doña Nazarenko has been weaving since 1988 and teaching since 1994. While living along the New Jersey coast, Doña developed an interest in woodcrafts and related art forms that developed into her desire to take basket making classes in 1988.
Her exploration of a different art medium has since evolved into a flourishing talent. She now enjoys making traditional baskets using reed with wooden accents to more challenging baskets using birch bark from the area surrounding her current residence in rural Vermont. The highlight of the early years at her craft was having a one-on-one critique with John McGuire at Peter's Gallery in 1992. His confidence in her and his discretion continues to help her with her current work. Today she can be seen demonstrating basketry representing Vermont fiber artists at local and out-of-state events. Doña is also an instructor and teaches courses at various high schools and basket guilds in NY, NJ, MO, MA, KY, TN, WI, and CT and at various state conventions in OK, MI, NC, and VA. She also teaches at various conventions and is teaching at their very own studio in Tunbridge, Vermont! Doña has a love of basket history so her baskets fit into the "days of yesteryear." She has been a costume interpreter of the 1830's basket maker at the historic Allaire State Park, NJ, and has been spotlighted on local cable TV. She has received numerous awards for her work. |
Doña's husband Warren helps make the Country Spirit baskets unique. He makes the wooden feet, lids, and accents for many of the different basket styles.
He also makes the wooden runners for some styles of baskets; these are the wooden pieces on the bottom that protect the baskets. His biggest project is currently working on our new studio which is where many basket making classes are taught. Hanging birch bark with accents in philodendron, leather, seed pods, iris leaves and beads
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